Anniversaries

July is anniversary month in my family. Today is the eighth anniversary of the day Chris and I said "I do," my parents celebrated 30 years this past July 4th (they like to say they always have fireworks on their anniversary!) and my brother and sister-in-law celebrated the big 5 on July 15th. I know summer is the height of wedding season, so happy anniversary to all the summer lovin' couples! May the coming years hold much laughter and be short on tears (unless they are the laugh-till-you-cry kind) and may you continue to support and bring joy to each other through all the ups and downs of life.

A beautiful wedding on the beach in Santa Barbara, 2006

My lovely mom, wearing my Grandma's wedding dress, and my dapper dad, 1981

And because I'm too lazy to pull out the CD with our wedding photos, here's a little side-by-side look at us in Yosemite on our honeymoon 8 years ago, and at the top of Vernal Falls this year. Maybe a trip to Yosemite will become an anniversary tradition!

Summer randomness

Making a dent in our list of summer fun (notice how the mundane things are left undone...better get to work!)

- Chris and I are both slightly obsessed with The Head and the Heart. And they're coming back to Portland in October! If anyone wants to go with us, let me know.



- Speaking of music, this video is pretty hilarious. I just love punctuation bands!

- While looking back through photos for an anniversary project (8 years next week!) I came across this one that makes me chuckle because a) I do not nor have I ever played the guitar b) Chris plays guitar but not the drums c) This was taken in our first apartment which was a little sketchy, but I love remembering how I tried to spruce it up with candles and flowers d) I have no idea who took this photo or why we were jamming together on the couch. But I love that I have this photo all the same!

- My pile of books from the library is starting to resemble the leaning tower of Pisa. Must read more! Summer favorites so far are Cutting for Stone and Same Kind of Different as Me. Chris is slogging his way through Infinite Jest. Next up on my list are The Wilder Life, the Paris Wife, Jane Eyre, and Sarah's Key (along with the rest of the pile which, lets face it, will probably return to the library unread).

- I am slowly working my way through this sampler by Alicia Paulson. I love the stillness it brings to busy summer days and the kids are enjoying the process, too.

Source: rosylittlethings.typepad.com via Jessica on Pinterest

So that's my list of summer randomness. How's your summer shaping up? I'd love to hear about your adventures and what you've been reading and/or listening to, and whether or not you had a punctuation band in high school. Do share!

Strawberry day

A few weeks ago, after lots of waiting and checking, the local farm's strawberry fields were finally ready for picking. We rounded up a friend and also took our favorite little buddy along for a morning full of farm fun, and we came home with a bucket of berries that were promptly consumed (with a few frozen for future summer smoothies). Get ready for a photo-heavy post - I just couldn't help myself with such precious models, and the lovely backdrop of shifting skies and emerald plants spotted with juicy red fruit. Oh, and a rather rusty but perfect truck. And Jess, I promise no berries were consumed by the little guy - only smooshed and smeared. Sorry about the laundry. 

The girls were really excited to have their picture taken near the goat.

Love the fancified friends on the rusty farm truck.

How Lucy really felt about the truck.

Self portrait in headlight  - little dude was on my back!

A cabbage growing in the patch. Mmm...I could eat him up!

I loved watching him explore!